Wrench.



W. T. LONG.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26, 1916.

1,181,466, Patented May2, 1916.

WILLIAM '1. LONG, 01 AUBURN, WASHINGTON.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed J'anuaq 26, 1916. Serial No. 74,396.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. LONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of King and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches and has for its object the provision of simple and efficient means whereby the slidable or movable jaw may be quickly adjusted to the diameter of the nut or other object to be grasped.

The invention also seeks to provide a wrench of novel construction in which the parts may be readily separated when hit is necessary to repair or replace any of them and in which the movable aw will be firmly held to its work while in use.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and consists in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the claims following the detailed description.

In the annexed drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench embodying my present improvements; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the holding dog. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the thumb piece.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a handle or lever 1 which has rack teeth 2 formed upon one edge and is constructed at one end with a lateral offset 3 constituting the fixed jaw. The movable jaw 4: is a plane-faced plate disposed parallel with the fixed jaw 3 and constructed with wings or side plates 5 which extend longitudinally of the handle or lever 1 and are provided with loops 6 which pass around the handle or shank 1 and thereby hold the movable jaw to the handle and guide the same in its movements along the handle. The loops 6 are spaced apart and upon the shank or handle between the said loops is fitted the thumb piece 7. This thumb piece is in the form of a loop which passes around the shank or handle between the loops 6 and has across bar 8 which is adapted to bear against a finger or lip 9 on the holding bar or dog 10. From the sides of the loop 7 fulcrum arms 11 extend toward the jaw 4: and these fulcrum arms are provided at their forward ends With lateral circular lugs or ears 12 -with angular notches or recesses 14 which accommodate the cross bar 8 in the operation of the thumb piece or releasing device. Adjacent the jaw 4 and the edge of the shank or handle 1, a holding lever or locking bar 15 is fulcrumed between the side plates 5 by means of a pin 16 inserted through the end of the said locking bar or lever and suitable perforations formed in the side plates 5. The said locking bar 01' lever 15 is offset at its fulcrum point, as shown at 17, and adjacent the said offset portion a circular recess or seat 18 is formed in its inner edge. This seat or recess 18 is engaged by a circular lug or ear 19 formed on the dog 10 which is provided with rack teeth 20 to engage the teeth 2 on the shank or handle 1 and thereby hold the movable jaw in its set position. The holding dog is provided at its rear end with spaced lips 9 and 21, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, between which is engaged the free end of a spring 22 which is secured to the inner side of the lever or looking bar 15.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of the device being thus made known, it is thought the operation and advantages thereof will be readily understood. The spring 22 normally holds the dog 10 in engagement at its rear end with the teeth 2, as shown in Fig. 2, the thumb piece 7 being thereby held in an inclined position relative to the shank or handle. When it is desired to use the tool, the shank 1 is grasped in the hand and the thumb pressed upon the thumb piece 7 so as to exert a pressure thereon which will swing it against the tension of the spring 22 and thereby release the dog 10 from the teeth 2. The housing consisting of the side plates 5 and loops 6 may then be slid along the shank by extending the thumb so as to bring the movable jaw approximately into the desired position. If the thumb piece be then released, the dog will then be swung into engagement with the teeth 2 under the influence of the spring 22. The tool being then placed in position upon the nut or other device, the lever or looking bar 15 is pressed toward the shank 1, thereby tending to straighten the spring 22 and causing the dog 10 to rock upon its rear end so that .its entire inner toothed edge will engage the toothed portion of the shank. The lever will, of course, swing about its fulcrum 16 relative to the movable j aw and will also have a turning movement relative to the dog about the lug or ear 19 so that the jaw will be given a slight additional movement to bind firmly against the object to be held or turned. \Vhen the pressure upon the lever or looking bar 15 is released, the parts will instantly return to the position shown in Fig. 2 and thereby release the jaw 4 from the object.

It will be readily noted that the device is composed of very few parts which are extremely simple in their construction and arrangement so that the tool is not apt to get out of order or need constant repairs. The several parts can be quickly assembled inasmuch as the thumb piece can be moved laterally into engagement with the side plates 5 and the dog can be likewise engaged in the locking bar or lever 15 by a sidewise or lateral movement. After the locking bar and the dog have been assembled they may be inserted between the side plates and the pivot put in place to connect them. The assembled jaw and housing with the thumb piece may then be slid over the outer end of the shank or handle 1 and moved longitudinally upon the same so as to be brought in proper operative relation to the fixed bar. It will be noted that the holding dog is inclosed by the housing so that it will be protected from chance blows and the liability of the same to breakage will be thereby minimized. hen pressure is exerted upon the thumb piece, the device may be held at adjustment by one hand but when pressure is exerted upon the spring, the device must be held in one hand and adjusted by the other hand. As the two jaws are always parallel, the device may be used as a wrench or as a plier.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination of a shank having a fixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw mounted on the shank, a lever fulcrumed upon the movable jaw, a dog fulcrumed upon said lever and adapted to engage the shank, means carried by the lever for normally holding the dog in engagement with the shank, and means carried by the movable jaw for releasing the dog from engagement with the shank.

2. The combination of a shank having a fixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw, a dog carried by the movable jaw and adapted to engage the shank to hold the dog in a set position, means for holding the dog normally in engagement with the shank, and

means carried by the movable jaw to release the dog from the shank.

3. The combination of a shank having a fixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw slidably mounted on the shank, a lever fulcrumed upon said jaw, a dog having a rocking engagement with the lever and adapted to en.- gage the shank, a spring having one end fixed to the lever and its other end freely engaging the dog whereby to hold the dog normally in engagement with the shank, and means carried by the movable jaw for releasing the dog from its engagement with the shank.

l. The combination of a shank having a fixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw slidable on the shank, a lever having an offset end pivotally connected with the movable jaw, a dog adapted to engage the shank and having a rocking engagement at one end with the lever and provided with spaced lips at its opposite end, a spring having one end secured to the lever and its opposite end engaging between said lips, and means carried by the movable jaw to actuate the dog in opposition to said spring.

5. The combination of a shank having a fixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw having prolongations extending longitudinally of the shank and loops fitting around the shank whereby the jaw is slidable along the shank, a lever pivoted between said prolongations and having a seat near its pivotal point, a dog adapted to engage the shank and provided at one end with a circular lug adapted to engage said seat, a spring secured to the lever at one end and having its other end loosely engaging the dog whereby to hold it normally in engagement with the shank, and means carried by the movable jaw for releasing said dog from its engagement with the shank.

6. The combination of a shank having afixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw having prolongations extending parallel with the shank and fitting around the same, said prolongations being provided with seats and notches in their inner edges, a lever fulcrumed between said prolongations, a dog having a rocking engagement at one end with said lever and adapted to engage the shank, means for holding the dog normally in engagement with the shank, and a thumb piece encircling the shank and having lugs engaging the seats in said prolongations and a cross bar playing in the notches in said prolongations and bearing upon the dog whereby to release the same from engagement with the shank.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM T. LONG. [11,. s.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington. D. C. 

